UConn streak faces challenge

The Associated Press

Thursday

Dec 30, 2010 at 2:00 AM

STANFORD, Calif. — Top-ranked Connecticut owns the 90-game winning streak that started after a loss to Stanford in the 2008 NCAA women's basketball semifinals. The Cardinal have their own impressive streak — 51 consecutive victories on their home floor in Maples Pavilion.

STANFORD, Calif. — Top-ranked Connecticut owns the 90-game winning streak that started after a loss to Stanford in the 2008 NCAA women's basketball semifinals. The Cardinal have their own impressive streak — 51 consecutive victories on their home floor in Maples Pavilion.

On Thursday, one of these long runs will go down. The game (9 p.m., ESPN2) that has been circled on so many calendars for months is finally here — a rematch of last season's NCAA championship game between the top programs from each coast.

Can Stanford (8-2) stop do-everything UConn star Maya Moore and Co. after coming so close in a 53-47 title game loss last April?

The Huskies (12-0) are short-handed after key reserve guard Lorin Dixon sprained the top of her left foot coming down on a teammate's foot in practice Monday. Coach Geno Auriemma doesn't sound too confident that UConn will be able to match up so well this time with Stanford's athletic inside trio of Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Kayla Pedersen and Ogwumike's talented freshman sister, Chiney.

"The question for us probably will continue to be what can we get out of our post players," Auriemma said after a rout of Pacific on Tuesday.

One of those post players is freshman center Stefanie Dolson, a Minisink Valley graduate. Dolson is averaging 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. She also has 15 blocked shots.

Without Dixon "it's going to be a huge problem because we can't get bigger," Auriemma said. "It's going to be very difficult for us to match up with them. We'll go in and we'll play and we'll see what happens."

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.